Sixers Bell Ringer: West Coast trip starts off well with win over Warriors

Note: The Bell Ringer series is going to post in the morning while the Sixers are on the West Coast.

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:

Joel Embiid - 17
Tobias Harris - 9
Ben Simmons - 7
Shake Milton - 4
Matisse Thybulle - 2
Tyrese Maxey - 1
Dakota Mathias - 1
Furkan Korkmaz - 1
Danny Green - 1

The final game before the NBA trade deadline and the second of six straight on the road for the Sixers was an up-and-down affair, to be sure. Philadelphia blitzed Golden State in the first quarter, 35-17, getting to the basket at will and stifling the Steph Curry-less Warriors on the other end. For a while, with as much as a 24-point lead, it looked like the Sixers would coast to an easy victory. Then, the third quarter happened, and Golden State went from shooting 1-of-12 from 3 to making seven of their next eight behind the arc. The Sixers shot just 7-of-22 from the field in the period, and the Warriors led by five points heading into the final frame. Fortunately for those back in Philadelphia staying up late to watch this contest, the Sixers surged back ahead midway through the fourth quarter with a 19-4 run, enough to close out the 108-98 victory. Bell Ringer candidates are as follows.

Tobias Harris: 25 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Tobi shook off his rough performance against the Knicks and returned to his All Star-caliber play this season. He shot 9-of-18 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line, while his 13 boards marked his second-highest total on the year. As has often been the case this season, Harris led the way offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring nine points in the period. He started things off by backing down Kent Bazemore for a physical three-point play. Later, with the game tied at 96, Tobias scored on consecutive possessions, including a floater from an extremely difficult angle against “Self-Proclaimed Best Defensive Player Ever” Draymond Green.

Tony Bradley: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Sixers’ interim starter did one better than his perfect 7-of-7 showing against Chicago a few weeks back, shooting 8-of-8 against the Warriors for a career-high 18 points. As usual, it was a simple, but effective game for Bradley. He lurks in waiting until his man helps off to try and halt a Tobias Harris or Ben Simmons drive, ready to accept and finish the dish-off at the rim. Bradley also had four offensive rebounds; I noticed he hovers around the dunker’s spot until he sees a shot going up, and then drives hard into a box-out under the basket, putting himself in prime position to gather a miss. His most pivotal O-board was of a different variety, though, corralling the ball in heavy traffic to finish over Green and give the Sixers a nine-point lead with two minutes remaining.

Ben Simmons: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Out west, Ben seemingly rediscovered the benefit of driving into the paint and going up himself at the rim. After shooting three free throws combined over the previous three games, Simmons tied a season-high with 14 free throw attempts in the Bay Area. You’d like to see him convert a couple more than the eight he made, but that’s still efficient offense. Ben also scored with a bevy of hook shots and some well-timed cuts. It was essentially the full platter of how Ben Simmons can help offensively without bothering with a jumper.